Tuesday, May 1, 2012

DAZZLER & THE REFRACTIONS
After a painful split from her longtime boyfriend, Longshot, Allison Blaire wants to get away from being a superhero and freedom fighter and concentrate on her first and greatest passion: music. Dazzler hits up her old connections in the music biz but finds all of them either gone, out of touch, or disinterested in giving her a second chance. Allison starts again from the bottom, singing in clubs and trying to make things work on her own. She tries to put a band together with no success. Things just aren't working out.

Finally, after performing at an open mic night, she's approached by someone representing Rampart Records. They're willing to put together a band for her, give them a record contract, and foot the bill for a worldwide tour. However, there are some serious strings attached...

Rampart Records is a front for S.H.I.E.L.D., and while Dazzler and her band will genuinely be playing concerts and recording music, to do so they'll also have to go on missions in every city they visit - infiltrating anarchist organizations, busting drug rings, catching super-tech dealers, etc.

Therefore the band Rampart has put together is all made of super-powered ladies, each of whom has their own reason for accepting S.H.I.E.L.D.'s deal. They are:

TITANIA
Real Name: Mary MacPherson
Band Role: bass guitar
Power: super strength
Her Deal: Once a meek pushover (and high school orchestra bass player), Mary was granted super strength by Dr. Doom during the first Secret War. She thought it was the answer to her prayers, hooked up with super villain The Absorbing Man, and took to a life of crime. She wasn't any happier than she used to be, repeatedly busted by the likes of Spider-Man an She Hulk. Finally sic of both The Absorbing Man and the life of crime, Titania wants to go straight. She sells out The Absorbing Man to S.H.I.E.L.D. and agrees to join the band in exchange for her criminal record being expunged. Because of her checkered past, Titania's place in the band is probationary, and comes with a top-secret additional catch. Unbeknownst to Titania, she's been tagged with a micro-tether. Should she get more than three miles away from the rest of the band, her powers will immediately go away, and she'll be small and weak again. Oh, and the Absorbing Man? I wouldn't expect that guy to stay locked up forever.

STRATOCASTER
Real Name: Eva King
Band Role: lead guitar, backing vocals
Power: Shockwave blasts
Her Deal: A mutant with vibration powers, Eva is also a single mother whose son's powers just kicked in. Raising a kid on your own is tough enough, but when that can't control his sudden bursts of super speed, things get really tough. Eva wants to enroll him in the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, but can't afford the tuition. That's where Rampart steps in. Agree to perform as Dazzler's right hand on stage and in the field, and the kid gets a full ride scholarship. How could a loving mother refuse? She hates to be away from her kid, but can't help but also love this opportunity to finally really rock.

CADENCE
Real Name: Tina Marusa
Band Role: drummer
Power: The ability to anticipate other's actions
Her Deal: With her mutant power to anticipate other people's immediate intentions, Cadence is both the perfect fighter, and the perfect drummer. In a brawl or on the stage, Tina can always find the rhythm -
unfortunately, she's never been able to settle into a rhythm in her life. Bounced around from school to school, Cadence eventually bounced out of school all together, she's tried to fit in in bands and gangs but instead
of finding her place, she's just found trouble. For Tina, Rampart's offer is the most simple and straightforward of all: here's a place you can finally use your abilities to contribute, and hopefully fit in.

Put together by design, it's now up to Dazzler and the Refractions to figure out how to work together - how to gel on stage and how to rely on one another offstage. They're off on a tour into every seedy corner of the Marvel Universe, and tasked with saving the world one dive bar at a time.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Alejandro says: Thrill-seeker Trevor Fitzroy's natural ability to step in and out of the time stream has both given him unique perspective and the opportunity to exploit his knowledge of history for personal gain. His story begins in 2104, as he uses his abilities and influence to gain a spot in the X-Men, which have long surpassed the Avengers as the world's most effective and respected protectors from extraordinary threats. He soon finds out that, in reality, the X-Men have become a corrupt militaristic political movement whose representatives govern most of the Americas.

Upon this discovery Fitzroy immediately realizes when things went wrong: The day, nearly a century before, when Cyclops and Wolverine decided to split the X-Men into factions. Fitzroy decides that, even though he's never taken a life, he must travel to 2012 to assassinate Cyclops in order to ensure that the X-Men remain a force for good.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

gElm says: Walt Disney's Comics and Stories relaunched as a distinctly Lovecraftian horror comic. In the first issue: "Beneath the Money Bin" - After seeing Scrooge McDuck lift a drunk vagrant into a limousine, a curious Huey, Dewey and Louie, follow and investigate. They soon discover the true source of their uncle's wealth and power. But will they survive it? (Answer: Probably not.) Backup story: "Madness Beyond the Farthest Stars" - Gyro Gearloose invents a machine that allows him to cast his mind deep into the terrifying void of the universe.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Dave says:Whilst visiting her father (Professor Thunder) on an archaeological dig at a Badhnesiaian temple, Jonni is caught in a terrifying earthquake.

The floor of the temple splits open and Jonni falls into an undiscovered cavern far underground.
Searching for a way out she accidentally breaks a small golden statue which releases the Thunderbolt, a Geni like spirit which bonds itself to her service!

Dave Windett is a professional comics artist and illustrator, his work has been published in Britain, Europe and America.

He has drawn comics featuring numerous licensed characters, including Inspector Gadget, Eek the Cat, Ace Ventura, Daffy Duck and Korky the Cat . For the Scandinavian market he has illustrated educational books, business manuals and comics. He has also designed original characters for a variety of publications and provided illustrations for everything from magazines and websites to mobile phones, games, and children's shoes.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

John says:Dr. Manhattan has finally returned from his six month mission, sending 7,777 versions of himself to explore the vast multiverse of parallel dimensions, spending only a few hours per dimension. One version of Earth interests him particularly. He christens it 'Earth-2'. The Watchmen of Earth-2 are versions of himself and his teammates, slightly different origins and powers, but remarkably familiar. A sinister force uses Dr. Manhattan's power to transport his team to Earth-2, and tricks them into battling this strange new team, but they finally join forces to fight the menace, known as Darkseid! This is the start of the massive story arc 'The Watchmen Crisis', which will spin off into the two new series 'The Watchmen League' and 'Young Watchmen'!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

This is what happens when you cage up two moths! They battle! But after MothMan's squirmish with Killer Moth ends in blood, MothMan becomes the prime suspect in Killer Moth's murder. Did MothMan Kill Killer Moth? You'll have to read it to find out. And when is Batman going to show up already?!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Eric says:Javi, as you may know, is a popular cartoonist from the magical land of California. The comic book he's most famous for, El Muerto, was adapted as a film & starred That 70's Shows' Wilmer Valderrama.

At the end of Watchmen we discover that Rorschach mailed a copy of his journal to The New Frontiersmen, an ultra-conservative publication dedicated to exposing corruption.

Our sequel assumes that said journal was published in The New Frontiersmen, and that it was generally dismissed as the last crazy ramblings of a mentally disturbed, paranoid-schizophrenic sociopath.

Our protagonists (as pictured on the cover) are a motley crew of young (13-21 years old) anarchists, punk rock kids, and loudmouthed libertarians who read Walter Kovak's last words, and believed every word. Not just his record of events...but also his violent, subjectivist philosophy.

They are The 1%, rallied around a martyr who is equal parts Batman and Che Guevera—and whose righteous, youthful rage (and sheer numbers) make them more of a threat to Ozymandias' utopia than Rorschach ever was.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

John says: Engineered from the cloned brain of a telepath, The Squid isthe centerpiece in Adrian Veidt’s plan to save the world from itself.

Within the tank, The Squid grows, reaching self-awarenessand begins to develop its burgeoning psychic powers. The Squid learns Veidt is planning toteleport it into the heart of New York City, killing millions, with the hopeof preventing World War III and saving billions. The Squid is to be the savior of mankind, a role it gradually accepts.

Using its growing psychic abilities, The Squid begins to direct Veidt's geneticists how to build a better monster and correcting any errors they make. It also telepathically suggests to Veidt how best to carry out his plans, as well as people who may stand in his way--and how he may have to deal with those people.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Zephan and Stevie say:
Byron Lewis was a good man who only wanted to help save the world. So he did what any sane person does and became a costumed crime-fighter. Crafting for himself hi-tech wings which allowed him to glide, he donned the name "Mothman" and joined up with the like minded Minutemen. Lewis became an alcoholic during the pressures of the HUAC trials and was forcibly committed. But the end is the beginning is the end...

Because YOU demanded it! From the superstar creative powerhouse Zephan Osiris and Stevie Garvin, here comes MothMan! In his own series! The DC Universe will never be the same when MothMan gets transferred to...Arkham Asylum. Who bats the Batman? You'll have to read it to find out the shocking answer.

NOT a hoax! NOT a dream! NOT endorsed by Alan Moore! Don't miss Part 1: The Mothman of Gotham City.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

I wanted to make T'Challa look like an espionage kind of character because, as you may already know, The Panther was a spy before joining the Avengers. That's why I went for the whole 007 vibe.

The plot I had in mind was that he would arrive to the U.S. as a Wakandan spy to hunt and kill the man who took his father's life and stole pieces of Vibranium for profit, Ulysses Klaw! His only rule: "Remember your training and get it done!"

Just tell SHIELD and the Avengers to stay out of his way.﻿

The Black Panther was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. Read more...

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The year is 2034.
The planets population and technology have both exploded in growth. Cities have become multi-layered urban jungles divided by social status and monetary worth. In the upper echelons the rich go about there business without so much as a passing thought for those who toil below. From the crime free upper platforms to the skyscrapers inhabited by the under rich and upper middle classes, all the way down to the city floor where low income humans and mutants live together in diverse ethnic groups. Below all this lies another group. A reformed society of Morlocks, five times the size of those predecessors who bore their namesake. The unwanted gene-trash and hybrid offspring cling to the most brutal and scrapping of lives. An overcrowded and underfed population on the verge of boiling over…..and when an alpha level mutant thrill killer from the island nation of Madipoor shows on their doorstep, with plans to use the Morlock territory as a trophy hunting ground, the fuse is lit. There's no turning back.

Now it's up to the man they call Wolverine to try and put a lid on an out of control situation. But is he up to the task? Can he put an end to the slaughter and carnage? Or is Logan just a senile old man chasing the dreams and ghost of his old friend Chuck?

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Anthony says: Spinning off from Marvel Comics' Star Wars issues 7-10 comes RAW RATS. Why are they called the RAW RAT? Because they are tough and pink and are often caught in places authority figures don't want them to be in. The Rats are smugglers and guns-for-hire. With the destruction of the Empire, Jaxxon the Rabbit and Amaiza team-up to try to make a living on a post-war Tatooine. During one of their smuggling runs, they rescue the body of Jolli the Space-Pirate. Jolli's space coffin had passed through some cosmic rays….mysteriously bringing her back to life. Their first issue will see them reluctantly playing the god guys as they strive to save Tatooine from being taken over by the Earth-seeking beings in the Battlestar Galactica. Meanwhile, a ship sent by the ominous-sounding Federation has arrived on Tatooine via time-war. The ship is callled the Enterprise and the Raw Rats have to determine if they are friends or foes. Also, Amaiza finds out she's pretty good with a lightsaber. Future issues will re-introduce the threat of Valance the Hunter and there will be a reunion of the Aduba-8. Issue three will introduce us to a major new star….Han Solo's sister!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Rumors have abounded for the last several years that DC Comics was planning a series of prequels and/or sequels to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' ground-breaking 1985 classic Watchmen. Recently, the rumors seem confirmed, and the controversial series appears to be a go-ahead.

However you feel about the planned followup series - pro or con - it is an interesting thought experiment to ponder how exactly you might handle taking characters who served their original story so completely and perfectly and instead placing them into scenarios where they blossom into their own characters, independent of Moore's overreaching themes of morality, authority and relativity.

For the month of February, Relaunched will host WATCHMEN TOO, and we invite all interested participants to create their own prequel or sequel to Watchmen, utilizing any of the characters (or concepts or situations) in the series in the service of inspiring their own followup. You can submit anytime starting today up through February 25 - we know, it's short notice, but get your inspiration on!

If you have any questions, ask them in the comments, and don't forget to check our submission guidelines - thanks!

Addendum: Credit Where Credit Is Due Dept - I neglected to mention that this is inspired by a suggestion from comic creator Brad Glenn, thanks Brad!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

I’ve always been a fan of Marvel’s Mystic Arcana and its principle line-up: Doctor Strange, Magik, and Brother Voodoo. But years ago there was also Clea. Nothing has really been done with her in the past few years, at least in key continuity, so I think it’s the perfect time to revisit and reintroduce her.

Clea was always written as someone else’s dependent, first as Dormammu’s niece turned victim, then Doctor Strange’s ward, then his apprentice, then wife. I’d love to give her a re-launch as a solo title, one in which she can be more fully developed.

After a series of cataclysmic events in the Dark Dimension, Clea escapes to Earth as a means of political asylum from her pursuants; first arriving in Madrid, she has to learn how to live in disguise as a human and conceal her powers. She soon finds, however, that she can’t sit idly by, and begins to involve herself more and more in the lives of people around her.

Clea would use her psychic powers to pinpoint extreme psychological distress and follow it to its source, be it a crime she has to stop, or a mystery she has to solve, or helping someone caught up in mystic plot beyond their control.

The tone of the book would be one of “foreignness”: not quite fitting in, though needing desperately to pass for normal. Ultimately, her pursuit to understand what it means to be human would drive her to use her powers more and more, threatening to reveal her to those in the Dark Dimension who might be trying to find her.

Sandra Lanz's website is here.Clea was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Read more...

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Charles Guthrie has been drawing monsters, super-heros and goofy characters since opening his first comic book as a child. Although much of his cartoon and illustration work is for younger children, he spends his spare time drawing absurd humor strips for various publications. Comics from the 40s, 50s and 60s have always been a great influence - weird and wonderful, with faded pages and the nostalgic scent of second-hand dust. His website is www.guthrie.nl

Charles says:After killing his mother in a slingshot accident, Dennis Mitchell runs away from home and eventually finds work changing the sheets in a brothel. He falls in love with the owner - "Juicy" Lucy van Pelt - who is on the run for smothering het brother in his sleep with an old blue blanket. Realizing that two menacing minds are better than one, they form "M.E.N.A.C.E." (Mean, Embittered, Nasty A-holes Commited to Evil) and recruit young offenders to help in their crusade of evil and mayhem.

The assorted members of M.E.N.A.C.E. - can you name them all? - were created by Hank Ketchum, Charles Schulz, Davey Law and Ian Chisholm, Hanna-Barbera and, finally, Matt Groening.

What is RELAUNCHED?

RELAUNCHED is a showcase of varied and independent artists given free reign over the comics and characters that they love. Contributors to RELAUNCHED choose an existing property and create their own take on it. Using only their own creativity and craftsmanship, they create a cover and a plot synopsis showing off their interpretation of characters ranging from from Alpha Flight to Zatanna and everyone in between.

RELAUNCHED began life as DC FIFTY-TOO, in which 52 creators (and a few more) were invited to create their own interpretations of a revamped DC Universe, completely liberated from editorial oversight. This was followed by MARVEL UNIVERSE TOO:WHAT IF? where many of the creators returned to work their magic with the Marvel Comics Universe.